Goodbye, Allah Rakhi

Noor Jehan was born at Kasur, India on September 21, 1929. Baby Noor Jehan pursued her early training with Ustad Ghulam Mohammed Khan.

Noor Jehan moved to Calcutta where she became a stage actress at the rather tender age of 6. It was also around that time that Punjabi movie makers, like K.D. Mehra, were looking to staff their Lahore productions with the right kind of people. Mehra can take credit for bringing the stage child of Calcutta to Lahore cinema. During the years 1935-37 Baby Noor Jehan was given bit parts for the child in movies like Ghaibi Gola, probably her first film, Misar Ka Sitara, Aazadi, Nari Raj, Fakhr-i-Islam.

It was Dalsukh M. Panchholi who provided Baby Noor Jehan with her first prominent role as well as a stable job in a series of Punjabi movies. People really took notice of the glamour girl in the Punjabi hit Gul-e-Bakawli (1939). The Punjabi bit parts continued with movies like Heer Sayal, Sassi Punnu, Yamla Jatt, Choudhary.

Director and story writer Shaukat Hussain Rizvi had become a close friend of Mr.Panchholi. He met Noor Jehan, quite possibly on the sets of Gul-e-Bakawli, or soon thereafter.. But after Gul-e-Bakawli, there was someone in Noor Jehan`s life. Three years after she had her first break, Shaukat Hussain made his directorial debut with Panchholi Studio`s Khandan (1942) starring Noor Jehan and Ghulam Mohammed with music by Master Ghulam Haider. Khandan was the first big movie in Noor Jehan`s life and It put her name right alongside the blockbuster names of the 1940s.

In 1943, following the great success of Panchholi movies, director Vishnukumar Maganlal Vyas at Sunrise Pictures ventured to bring Noor Jehan to Bombay to star in Duhaai with Kumar and Shanta Apte. This was followed by another hit, Naukar, directed by Shaukat Hussain Rizvi. Both movies had music by Rafique Ghaznavi. Another great hit, Nadan, came from Zia Sarhadi with music by Datta Koregaonkar. Dost was another hit with Sajjad`s music, followed by Lal Haveli starring Surendra with music by Mir Saheb.

In 1944, famous Hindi-Marathi director-producer Master Vinayak (father of actress Nanda) brought Noor Jehan and Lata Mangeshkar, both 16 year old, in Badi Maa, both as singer actresses, their only movie together, with Datta Koregaonkar`s music. Badi Maa marked the beginning of a great friendship between Lata and Noor Jehan that is alive to this day. In 1945 came Bhaijan and Gaon Ki Gori, with music by Pandit Shyam Sunder. Zeenat was another big musical success. And then in 1946 came the greatest one, Mehboob Khan`s Anmol Ghadi, with Surendra and Suraiya as costars with music by Naushad.

In 1944, Noor Jehan and husband Shauqat Hussain had already started Shauqat Art Productions in Bombay. They had recruited the little-known 24-year old Yusuf Khan (Dilip Kumar) to play the lead role opposite Noor Jehan in Jugnu with music by Maestro Feroze Nizami. Jugnu was released in 1947 and proved a big hit

In 1946, with Shauqat Arts still in its infancy, Shaukat Hussain and Noor Jehan decided to move again. In 1947-48, they finished Mirza Saheban, their last Bombay project, and settled in Lahore.

In 1951, she co-produced and acted in Chanway, a Punjabi movie under the Shauqat Arts banner. But the music was just not there. In 1952, the new Lahore studio Film Asia produced Dupatta, and once again, Feroze Nizami delighted the world with Noor Jehan songs. In 1953, Noor Jehan would star in Gulnar and Laila. Master Haider scored for both movies. She starred in around 10 more movies between 1955 and 1963, that included Patey Khan, Lakht-e-Jigar, Qaidi, Intezar, Nooran, Chhoo Mantar, Anarkali, Pardesan, Neend, Koel, and Ghalib.

Ventured into her new married life with actor Ijaz, she then bid farewell to acting and became the dominant playback singer of Pakistan`s film industry. She sang playback for Urdu and Punjabi films during the following two decades that included a large number of hit musical films with hundreds of memorable songs, many of those are among classics.

In 1955, in a weak nostalgic moment, Noor Jehan put in a half-song for Bombay. The movie was Musafir Khana, and it starred Shyama and Karan Diwan, with music by O. P. Nayyar. For Rafi, the Musafir Khana duet Jhoote Zamaane Bhar Ke, Jadu Kaisa Daar Gaye Mo Pe, Neechi Nazar Kar Ke must have been a replay of the Jugnu dream all over again.

She was honored with the Pakistan`s National Award and officially crowned as Malika-e-Taranum by the President of Pakistan.

In the early `1980s, upon invitation from Bombay`s old fans, the melody queen visited India for that grand concert where she met her long-time friend Lata, her Jugnu dream Dilip Kumar, and the creator of the immortal Anmol Ghadi music Naushad, after the lapse of four decades.

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Is it just me or does the younger generation does not have the same admiration or sense of awe for Madam Noor Jehan?

Maybe the older folks remember her from her songs/movies in the 50s/60s. I somehow associate her with all the cheesy Punjabi songs in the 80s that nobody cares about or remembers.

Manto`s sketch of Noor Jehan is highly recommended for an enjoyable read.

later

-sac

Thank you Ras sahb for the article. I knew you would write this one... one last time.

There have been three icons who helped develop their respective fields in music that passed away this year. Pathanay Khan, Aziz Mian and the Nightingale. The younger of us desis, and particularly Pakistanis, have had to settle for mediocrity in the face of commercial on-slaughts and opinions generated from intolerance and prejudices. Artists and writers have had to hold their own and it was an inspiration for us to see genuine talent hold up to an often unjust society/state with narrow definitions of what is acceptable. We could look up to Malika-e-Taranum and see in her songs the beauty that some say is not acceptable to watch.

The sorrow felt at the passing away of artists is all the more considering they represented the last glimpses of greatness in a land where people are willing to settle for less as long as the tightening shells of belief are not affected. With the passing away of the leading luminaries of Pakistani art, there is an emptiness begging to be filled but seems like it won’t be.

‘Qatl gahoun say chun kar hamaray alm, aur niklain gay ushaaq kay qafalay’…??

A much needed, tribute to the best known personality of our culture in this century. Somehow, I feel we did not shower her with the kind of respect during her life, what she is given after her departure. Pakistan need to do more to remember her than just paying tribute through condolence letters. I reproduce here, a letter to the Editor appeared in Pakistani newspaper ``The News`` daily.

The demise of a legend

(December 26, 2000)

Today is, indeed, a very sad day for all the people of sub-continent. Today millions of Muslims, Hindus, Indians and Pakistanis are all grieving at the passing away of an icon, a legend, Malika-e-Tarannum, Melody Queen, Noor Jahan. Here was a lady who charmed and entertained millions with her music, transcending the regional, religious and national boundaries. Her loss is not just being felt in Pakistan and India but all over the world, among the expatriate Indian/Pakistani communities. She will remain alive in the hearts of millions and her voice will keep charming people for decades to come.

Noor Jahan, we will miss you. I thank God, for endowing us for decades, a true Saint of culture in the form of Noor Jahan. Alas, we did not extract the best from the gifts of God. Both Noor Jahan and Lata Mangeshkar could have been used as ambassadors of peace, love and understanding utilising the musical aspect of our culture to bridge the bond between the people of sub-continent. May be we did not deserve to have them among us- who love to jump on every opportunity we get to create wedges, hate and differences. While the rest of the people continue furious recriminations over Islam and Hinduism or Pakistan and India, I am going to play a Noor Jahan CD and have a cup of hot tea to remember her in the bitter cold of New York.

Sameer

New York

P.S. The literal translation of ``Mujh se pehli si mohabbat mere mahboob na mang`` for some reason did not give the same idea as in this poem. Never mind!

Good article,BTW Noor Jehan`s actual name was Allah Wasai,not Allah Rakhi.

Very touching. Thanks to Ras for a beautifully rendered farewell message.

Thanks

Dear Ras:

A nice tribute to a Pakistani (and Indian) legend. Thanks!

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad